Underwater projectile for firing a cartridge upon impact

ABSTRACT

A projectile including an elongated tubular body having an open fore end portion defining a gun bore and an intermediate portion defining a chamber communicating with the gun bore for receiving an ammunition cartridge. A firing pin is slidably disposed within the tubular body rearwardly of the chamber therein and is adapted to be shifted forwardly within the tubular body to engage the primer of an ammunition cartridge housed within the chamber upon fore end contact of the projectile body with a target to cause detonation of the ammunition cartridge.

Unitd States Patent [72] Inventor Grover E. Hendricks 2241 Lake St., Niles, Mich. 49120 [21] App]. No. 779,371 [22] Filed Nov. 27, 1968 [45] Patented May 25, 1971 [54] UNDERWATER PROJECFILE FOR FIRING A CARTE UPGN MAC!" 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. 1C1 102/48, 42/1 43/6 [51] Int. Cl ..F42b 13/54, A01k 81/00 [50] Field 011 Search 42/1 (L); 102/48, 92; 43/6 [5 6] References ited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,210,877 10/1965 Liberatore 42/1(L).

3,274,936 9/1966 Messinaetal. 3,300,888 1/1967 Belcheretal Primary Examiner-Samuel Feinberg Assistant ExaminerJordan C. T. Attorney-Ohsch and Knoblock PMENTEU HAYZ 5 WI SHEU 2 OF 2 INVIiN'IUR GROVE/P E. HENDRICKS ATTORNEYS UNDERWATER PROJECTILE FOR FIRING A CAIIITIRIDGE UPON IMPACT SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention concerns a projectile and comprises an elongated tubular body having a fore end portion defining a gun bore and an intermediate portion defining a chamber communicating with said gun bore for receiving an ammunition cartridge. A firing pin is slidably disposed within the tubular body to the rear of said chamber therein and is adapted to slide forwardly within said body upon fore end contact of the projectile with a target and forcibly engage the primer of an ammunition cartridge housed within the chamber of the body to cause detonation of said cartridge.

This invention is particularly adapted for use as an underwater projectile which can be thrown by hand or preferably launched from a gun or sling and which is utilized to kill large game fish or predatory fish such as sharks. This projectile utilizes an inertial firing pin which detonates anammunition cartridge disposed within the chamber of the body of the projectile as the fore end of the body strikes the target to thereby cause the slug or bullet head of the cartridge to pass axially through the tubular body and into the target. The chamber which houses the ammunition cartridge is sealed so as to be watertight, thereby preventing contamination of the cartridge.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a projectile having a spearlike configuration which houses an ammunition cartridge detonable by an inertial firing pin slidably contained within the projectile.

It is another object of this invention to provide a projectile for underwater use in killing game and predatory fish.

It is another object of this invention to provide a projectile which is detonable upon contact with a target. 3

Other objects ofthis invention will become apparent upon a reading of the invention '5 description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary axial sectional view of the projectile of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary detail sectional view of the projectile with parts shown in modified form.

FIG. 4 is-another fragmentary detail sectional view of the projectile with parts shown in modified form.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The preferred embodiments illustrated are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. They are chosen and described in order to best explain the principles ofthe invention and its application and practical use to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention.

The projectile illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes an elongated tubular body I having a head portion 12 and a coaxial body portion 14. l lead portion 12 is preferably of uniform outer diameter and includes an thin-wall fore end 15 defined in part by an annular internal shoulder 16. A removable plug 18 preferably is shugly seated within end 15 of head portion 12 and abuts annular shoulder 16 therein. Plug I8 preferably has a eonically shaped forward end face 20. The aft end of head portion 12 includes a thin-wall part 22 which is defined in part by an internal annular shoulder 24 and which is preferably internally threaded.

Body portion I4 of projectile body 10 includes an interlock part 26 ahd a coaxial rearwardly extending shaft part 28 and has an axial bore-40 of uniform diameter therein. Interlock part 26 includes a tubular sidewall 30 and a forward integral end wall 32. sidewall 30 of interlock part 26 includes a reduced forward end portion 31 having a longitudinal dimension which is preferably at least equal to the distance shoulder 24 is located from the aft edge 34 of head portion 12. Reduced end portion 31 of interlock part 26 is externally threaded and diametrically sized so as to be inserted within and threadably interlocked with thin-wall part 22 of head portion 12. The forward end wall 32 of interlock part 26 has a central aperture 38 therein and a coaxial annular groove 36 formed in its front face.

Shaft part 28 of body portion 14 is preferably of thin-walled tubular construction and has a fore end portion 44 which is pressed into an enlarged open end portion 42 of interlock pat 26. It is to be understood that interlock part 26 and shaft part 28 could be of one piece construction. Shaft part 28 includes a cylindrical plug 46 having a reduced end portion 48 which ispressed into the aft end portion 50 of the shaft part. The outer diameter of cylindrical plug 46 and the outer diameter of shaft part 28 are preferably of equal dimension.

If the projectile of this invention is to be utilized in a compressed air or similar type gun, it is preferable that the outer surface of cylindrical plug 46 be interrupted by at least one circumferential groove 52 which receives a resilient O-ring 54. O-ring 54 serves to provide a seal between the barrel of the gun and shaft part 28 of the received projectile. Additionally, the aft end face 56 of cylindrical plug 46 may be recessed and have a dish-shaped configuration. Also, cylindrical plug 46 may contain an axial bore which opens into end face 56 and which receives a solid propellant. This propellant would be ignited upon discharge of the receiving gun and would serve to increase the speed and distance of the projectile.

An ammunition cartridge 58 which is preferably of the center-fire type and which includes a slug or bullet head 60 is snugly received within head portion 12 of tubular body 10 with its rim 62 abutting shoulder 24 therein. A resilient O-ring 64 is seated within groove 36 in end wall 32 of body portion 14 and engages the base of ammunition cartridge 58 when reduced forward end portion 31 of body portion 14 is threaded into thinwall part 22 of head portion 12, thus serving to securely seat cartridge 58 within head portion 12.

An inertial firing pin 66 is disposed within bore 40 of body portion 14 and is free to shift lengthwise therein. Firing pin 66 includes a forward reduced end part 68 which is coaxial with and which has a diameter slightly less than the diameter of aperture 38 in end wall 32 of body portion 14. The length of end part 68 of firing pin 66 is preferably greater than the combined thicknesses of end wall 32 of body portion 14 and O- ring 64.

In operation, as the heretofore described projectile is in free flight advancing towards the target, firing pin 66 will be positioned against cylindrical plug 46 of body portion 14. Upon contact of head portion 12 of the projectile with the target, firing pin 66 moves forwardly relative to the projectile within bore 40 of body portion 14 causing end part 68 of the firing pin to enter aperture 38 in end wall 32 and strike the primer of cartridge 58 with sufficient force to detonate the same. Upon detonation of cartridge 58, plug 18 is expelled from end 15 of head portion 12 of the projectile and slug 60 of the cartridge proceeds out projectile end 15 and into the target. To reload the projectile of this invention, body portion 14 need only be unscrewed from head portion 12 and the casing of spent ammunition cartridge 58 moved from the head portion and replaced by a new cartridge. Body portion 14 is rescrewed into head portion 12. A new plug 18 is then pressed into the fore end of head portion 1-2 thus serving to keep the newly inserted ammunition cartridge free from contaminants such as dust and water.

Head portion 12 and interlock part 26 of body portion 14 are preferably fonned from a corrosive resistant metal. Shaft part 28 of body portion 14 and plug 18 may be of a plastic or fiber glass composition. Additionally, the entire projectile can be coated with a polytetrafluoroethylene polymer.

A modification of the projectile illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is shown in FIG. 3 wherein annular groove 36 is omitted from end wall 32 of body portion 14 and a disc 70 having an outer diameter slightly less than the inner diameter of thin-wall part 22 of head portion 12 is positioned between the base of ammunition cartridge 58 and end wall 32. Disc 70 is preferably formed of rubber or deformable plastic and includes a central aperture or opening 72 having a diameter slightly less than the diameter of reduced end part68 of firing pin 66. If when carried the projectile is accidentally tipped so as to cause firing pin 66 to slide forwardly within body portion 14, end part 68 of the firing pin would strike disc 70 and lodge itself within aperture 72 of the disc without engaging the primer of the ammunition cartridge. Firing pin 66 may be freed from disc 70 by standing the projectile in an upright position and tapping end face 56 thereof against a hard surface. When the projectile strikes a target, reduced end part 68 of the firing pin enters aperture 72 of disc 70 but is not slowed s'ufficiently enough to prevent it from striking the primer of the ammunition cartridge with sufficient force to detonate said cartridge.

In FIG. 4, the projectile illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is modified to the extent that the forward end wall 32 of interlock part 26 includes a portion 80 which is constructed of a pliable material, such as rubber or deformable plastic, and has a central aperture 38 therein. The diameter of forward reduced end part 68' of firing pin 66 is slightly larger than aperture 38' in wall portion 80 to thereby permit the firing pin to lodge itself within aperture 38 without engaging the primer of ammunition cartridge 58 should the projectile be accidentally tipped while being carried. Wall portion 80 is sufficiently pliable so as to permit the passage of end part 68 of firing pin 66 therethrough-when the projectile strikes a target and the firing pin is shifted forcibly forward.

lclaim:

l. A projectile comprising an elongated tubular body having substantially coaxial head and body parts, said head part defining a gun bore and having an open aft end, said aft end adapted to snugly receive an ammunition cartridge and including an annular shoulder means for engaging the rim of said ammunition cartridge, said body part having a firing pin slidably disposed therein, said firing pin adapted to shift forwardly within said body part upon fore-end impact of said projectile with a target, said body part including a forward end wall at its fore end adapted to engage the base of said ammunition cartridge and having an aperture therein positioned in alignment with the primer of said ammunition cartridge, said head part being of substantially uniform outer diameter and including a thin-wall portion at its aft end, said thin-wall portion being separated from the remainder of said head part by said annular shoulder means and having internal threads formed therein, the fore end of said body part being of reduced outer diameter and having external threads formed thereon which engage the internal threads of said head part thereby interlocking the aft end of said head part and the fore end of said body part, said firing pin including a forward end part in alignment with the aperture in the forward end wall of said body part, the forward end part of said firing pin adapted to project through said aperture and engage the primer of said ammunition cartridge to cause detonation of said cartridge when said firing pin is shifted to its forwardmost position within said body part upon fore end impact of said projectile with said target.

2. A projectile comprising an elongated tubular body including substantially coaxial tubular head and body parts, said head part defining a gun bore and having an open aft end, said aft end adapted to snugly receive an ammunition cartridge and including annular shoulder means for engaging the rim of said ammunition cartridge, said body part having a firing pin shiftably disposed therein and including an end wall at its fore end adapted to engage the base of said ammunition cartridge, said end wall having an aperture therein positioned in alignment with the primer of said ammunition cartridge, said end wall having an annular groove formed in its outer face and including a resilient O-ring disposed within said groove, means interlocking the aft end of said head part and the fore end of said body part, said firing pin including a forward end part in alignment with the aperture in said end wall, said firing pin adapted to shift forwardly within said body part upon fore end impact of said projectile with a target, the forward end part of said firing pin adapted to project through said aperture and engage the primer of said ammunition cartridge so as to cause detonation of said ammunition cartridge when said pin is so shifted forwardly within said body part.

3. A projectile comprising an elongated tubular body including substantially coaxial tubular head and body parts, said head part defining a gun bore and having an open aft end, said aft end adapted to snugly receive an ammunition cartridge and including annular shoulder means for engaging the rim of said ammunition cartridge, said body part having a firing pin shiftably disposed therein and including an end wall at its fore end adapted to engage the base of said ammunition cartridge, said end wall having an aperture therein positioned in alignment with the primer of said ammunition cartridge, means interlocking the aft end of said head part and the fore end of said body part, said firing pin including a forward end part in alignment with and having an outer diameter slightly larger than the aperture in said end wall, said firing pin adapted to shift forwardly within said body part upon fore end impact of said projectile with a target, the parts of said end wall defining said aperture being pliable so as to permit the forward end part of the firing pin to project through said aperture and engage the primer of said ammunition cartridge to cause detonation of said ammunition cartridge when the projectile strikes said tar]- get and the firing pin is so shifted forwardly within said body part.

4. A projectile comprising an elongated tubular body including substantially coaxial tubular head and body parts, said head part defining a gun bore and having an open aft end, said aft end adapted to snugly receive an ammunition cartridge and including annular shoulder means for engaging the rim of said ammunition cartridge, said body part having a firing pin shiftably disposed therein and including an end wall at its fore end adapted for positioning adjacent the base of said ammunition cartridge, said end wall having an aperture therein positioned in alignment with the primer of said ammunition cartridge, means interlocking the aft end of said head part and the,

fore end of said body part, said firing pin including a forward end part in alignment with the aperture in said end wall, said firing pin adapted to shift forwardly within said body part upon fore end impact of said projectile with a target, a disc formed of pliable material disposed between said end wall and said ammunition cartridge, said disc having an aperture which is aligned with the aperture in said end part and which has a diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the forward part of said firing pin, said disc being sufiiciently pliable to permit the passage of the forward end'part of said firing pin through its aperture and through the aperture of said end wall .to engage the primer of said ammunition cartridge and cause the detonation thereof when said projectile strikes said target and said firing pin is so shifted forwardly within said body part.

5. A projectilecomprising an elongated tubular body including substantially coaxial tubular head and body parts, said head part defining a gun bore and having an open aft end, said aft end adapted to snugly receive an ammunition cartridge and including annular shoulder means for engaging the rim of said ammunition cartridge, said body part including fore and aft end walls and having a firing pin shiftably disposed therein, said fore end wall adapted for positioning adjacent the base of said ammunition cartridge and having an aperture therein positioned in alignment with the primer of said ammunition cartridge, means interlocking said head part and said body part to prevent relative movement between said head and body parts upon fore end impact of said projectile with a target, said firing pin including a forward end part in alignment with the aperture in said fore end wall, said firing pin adapted to shift forwardly within said body part upon said impact of said projectile with said target, the forward end part of said firing pin adapted to project through said aperture and forcibly engage the primer of said ammunition cartridge to cause the detonation of said cartridge when said pin is so shifted forwardly within said body part. 

1. A projectile comprising an elongated tubular body having substantially coaxial head and body parts, said head part defining a gun bore and having an open aft end, said aft end adapted to snugly receive an ammunition cartridge and including an annular shoulder means for engaging the rim of said ammunition cartridge, said body part having a firing pin slidably disposed therein, said firing pin adapted to shift forwardly within said body part upon fore end impact of said projectile with a target, said body part including a forward end wall at its fore end adapted to engage the base of said ammunition cartridge and having an aperture therein positioned in alignment with the primer of said ammunition cartridge, said head part being of substantially uniform outer diameter and including a thin-wall portion at its aft end, said thin-wall portion being separated from the remainder of said head part by said annular shoulder means and having internal threads formed therein, the fore end of said body part being of reduced outer diameter and having external threads formed thereon which engage the internal thrEads of said head part thereby interlocking the aft end of said head part and the fore end of said body part, said firing pin including a forward end part in alignment with the aperture in the forward end wall of said body part, the forward end part of said firing pin adapted to project through said aperture and engage the primer of said ammunition cartridge to cause detonation of said cartridge when said firing pin is shifted to its forwardmost position within said body part upon fore end impact of said projectile with said target.
 2. A projectile comprising an elongated tubular body including substantially coaxial tubular head and body parts, said head part defining a gun bore and having an open aft end, said aft end adapted to snugly receive an ammunition cartridge and including annular shoulder means for engaging the rim of said ammunition cartridge, said body part having a firing pin shiftably disposed therein and including an end wall at its fore end adapted to engage the base of said ammunition cartridge, said end wall having an aperture therein positioned in alignment with the primer of said ammunition cartridge, said end wall having an annular groove formed in its outer face and including a resilient O-ring disposed within said groove, means interlocking the aft end of said head part and the fore end of said body part, said firing pin including a forward end part in alignment with the aperture in said end wall, said firing pin adapted to shift forwardly within said body part upon fore end impact of said projectile with a target, the forward end part of said firing pin adapted to project through said aperture and engage the primer of said ammunition cartridge so as to cause detonation of said ammunition cartridge when said pin is so shifted forwardly within said body part.
 3. A projectile comprising an elongated tubular body including substantially coaxial tubular head and body parts, said head part defining a gun bore and having an open aft end, said aft end adapted to snugly receive an ammunition cartridge and including annular shoulder means for engaging the rim of said ammunition cartridge, said body part having a firing pin shiftably disposed therein and including an end wall at its fore end adapted to engage the base of said ammunition cartridge, said end wall having an aperture therein positioned in alignment with the primer of said ammunition cartridge, means interlocking the aft end of said head part and the fore end of said body part, said firing pin including a forward end part in alignment with and having an outer diameter slightly larger than the aperture in said end wall, said firing pin adapted to shift forwardly within said body part upon fore end impact of said projectile with a target, the parts of said end wall defining said aperture being pliable so as to permit the forward end part of the firing pin to project through said aperture and engage the primer of said ammunition cartridge to cause detonation of said ammunition cartridge when the projectile strikes said target and the firing pin is so shifted forwardly within said body part.
 4. A projectile comprising an elongated tubular body including substantially coaxial tubular head and body parts, said head part defining a gun bore and having an open aft end, said aft end adapted to snugly receive an ammunition cartridge and including annular shoulder means for engaging the rim of said ammunition cartridge, said body part having a firing pin shiftably disposed therein and including an end wall at its fore end adapted for positioning adjacent the base of said ammunition cartridge, said end wall having an aperture therein positioned in alignment with the primer of said ammunition cartridge, means interlocking the aft end of said head part and the fore end of said body part, said firing pin including a forward end part in alignment with the aperture in said end wall, said firing pin adapted to shift forwardly within said body part upon fore end impact of said projectile with a target, a diSc formed of pliable material disposed between said end wall and said ammunition cartridge, said disc having an aperture which is aligned with the aperture in said end part and which has a diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the forward part of said firing pin, said disc being sufficiently pliable to permit the passage of the forward end part of said firing pin through its aperture and through the aperture of said end wall to engage the primer of said ammunition cartridge and cause the detonation thereof when said projectile strikes said target and said firing pin is so shifted forwardly within said body part.
 5. A projectile comprising an elongated tubular body including substantially coaxial tubular head and body parts, said head part defining a gun bore and having an open aft end, said aft end adapted to snugly receive an ammunition cartridge and including annular shoulder means for engaging the rim of said ammunition cartridge, said body part including fore and aft end walls and having a firing pin shiftably disposed therein, said fore end wall adapted for positioning adjacent the base of said ammunition cartridge and having an aperture therein positioned in alignment with the primer of said ammunition cartridge, means interlocking said head part and said body part to prevent relative movement between said head and body parts upon fore end impact of said projectile with a target, said firing pin including a forward end part in alignment with the aperture in said fore end wall, said firing pin adapted to shift forwardly within said body part upon said impact of said projectile with said target, the forward end part of said firing pin adapted to project through said aperture and forcibly engage the primer of said ammunition cartridge to cause the detonation of said cartridge when said pin is so shifted forwardly within said body part. 